By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
THOUSANDS of high school students throughout Casey woke with butterflies in their stomachs on Monday as they prepared for the release of their VCE results.
Staff from Kambrya College, Nossal High School and Maranatha Christian College this week spoke to the News about their students’ high-achieving and hardworking efforts which were highlighted by their results for 2015.
Kambrya College principal Michael Muscat said his school achieved a median study score of 30 which placed it in the top 20 per cent of state schools.
“It’s exactly the same as last year and our trajectory has been towards improvement for the last six years,” he said.
“We’ve been either at or above the previous year’s median score.
“It’s a great wrap for the professionalism and hard work of our teachers.
“Over the last three years it’s the best team of teachers I’ve ever worked with.
“And, as a college, we think there’s more we can do, more achievement in our grasp.”
Mr Muscat also congratulated his school’s VCE Dux Dayna O’Shannesy who received an ATAR of 93.95 and it’s VCAL Dux Jarod Whitfield.
Across the way, students from Nossal High School in Berwick, a select entry school, achieved a median ATAR score of 90.68, with 13 students claiming a perfect study score of 50.
Nossal High School assistant principal Wayne Haworth said the school held a special morning tea for all students on Monday to celebrate their results and reflect on the year.
“We were delighted to see so many happy faces,” he said.
“The staff were also able to reflect on the year and join in the celebrations.
“We’re happy when the students are happy.
“We tell them that even when they’re passionate about something, to not put the blinkers on and ensure they have a big-picture vision.
“The motto of the school is to embrace the challenge.”
Students from Maranatha Christian College in Endeavour Hills were also relieved to have the agonising wait for their results over and done with.
Principal Roderick Crouch commended the students for being able to negotiate the careful balance between their studies and their extra-curricular activities.
“The key to a successful Year 12 experience is balance and our school works very hard to ensure students receive every opportunity to explore areas that interest them across the arts, sports and community development,” Dr Crouch said.
“Some of our top students such as Bailey have been at our college since Prep so we couldn’t be happier to see students walk away with well-earned ATAR results that open doors to amazing courses and careers,” he said.
Year 12 student Bailey Crossett was awarded Dux of the school, earning an ATAR of 97.55 while students Monique Bihari, Samuel Crotty, Shane De Kretser and Lauren Crawley also scored above 90.
Bailey said his greatest challenge for the year was staying on task while balancing his love of playing guitar.
“There is a lot of pressure to do well in Year 12 but studying was made a lot easier because I enjoyed my subjects and had support from my teachers,” he said.
“After all the anticipation it’s a bit of a relief to finally know my results.
“With my heart set on university, I’m now a little overwhelmed by the plethora of opportunities open to me.
“My next challenge is to try and figure out which of the many engineering and science courses I should do.”
